Modular furniture construction system

ABSTRACT

A modular furniture construction system and kit having a horizontal platform with a coordinate region on a bottom side. The coordinate region has a coordinate pattern formed from a plurality of bore clusters, with each bore cluster preferably having two bores. The construction also includes first and second substructures each having at least two vertical panels which are vertically hinged together to form a preferably a ninety degree angle. The upper ends of the vertical panels are releasably connected to the bores such that a first panel of a first substructure contacts or at least confronts a second panel of a second substructure in a parallel manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The field of the invention pertains to modular furniture. The invention relates more particularly to a modular, knockdown furniture construction system having a horizontal platform with a preferably dual-bore cluster pattern which enables vertical panels to be releasably secured thereto in side-by-side arrangement with other vertical panels, and in a variety of configurations.

[0002] Various types of knockdown furniture constructions have been developed which enable simplified assembly and disassembly of the furniture unit, e.g. desks, bookcases, cabinets, etc, especially by a layman consumer. In particular, such furniture constructions are often manufactured with pre-drilled mounting holes which guide and facilitate assembly of the component parts into a specific furniture configuration, much like a jigsaw puzzle. Furthermore, such knockdown constructions also facilitate shipping and handling to distant locations, due to the substantially less space required when disassembled into its multiple component parts.

[0003] Several representative prior art furniture constructions have been disclosed which utilize such pre-drilled mounting holes for facilitated assembly. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,145, a self-locking mounting bolt system is shown for use in mounting shelf boards to side walls typically used in furniture. Various holes in the vertical side panels 50 as well as in the shelves themselves are utilized to releasably attach the shelves to the panels 50 and thereby construct the furniture. Additionally, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,754,806, a frame structured plastic bathroom cabinet is disclosed having a vertical back plate 4 with mounting holes 13. The mounting holes 13 receive plastic rivets or other fasteners for attaching vertical subdividers 5.

[0004] Perhaps the greatest disadvantage of such prior art furniture constructions illustrated in the '145 and '806 patents is that little is provided or designed into the construction system which allows for variation, customization, or adaption of the furniture, as necessitated by changes during use or to accommodate personal styles. Both representative furniture pieces discussed above are pre-drilled along vertical walls to form a single configuration, and cannot be rearranged for different applications. For example, the back plate 4 of the '806 patent is drilled with only as many mounting holes as is necessary to receive the various components in a predetermined configuration. The same holds true for the article of furniture in the '145 patent as well.

[0005] Additionally, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,797,905, a furniture or container unit is disclosed having a main wall and side walls which are pivotally secured to the main wall using a flexible sheet material. The flexible sheet material is adhered to a pivoting section of the main wall such that the side walls overlap each other when in a closed position (see FIG. 1). The '905 patent illustrates one manner of hinging panels relative to each other. However, as can be seen in FIG. 2, the hinging motion is effectively limited to two positions. A disassembled/closed position is shown in FIG. 4, and an assembled/operating position is shown in FIG. 2. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the panels must be hinged to ninety-degrees in order to align with and secured to a sidewall 14. However, no other angles are supported by the furniture construction which may be used as the final configuration. Furthermore, because all the components are tape hinged to each other, only one operating configuration is possible.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a simple, modular furniture construction enabling a variety of modular configurations utilizing a set number of components.

[0007] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a furniture construction system utilizing a central platform having a standardized bore pattern which enables the customized arrangement and interchangeable attachment of different substructure components.

[0008] It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a simple, quick setup and disassembly furniture construction kit which may be easily constructed in a variety of custom configurations as per the needs, style, or preferences of a user.

[0009] It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a modular furniture construction which seats a support column along a channel seat formed by the hinge corners of vertical panels.

[0010] The present invention is for a modular furniture construction comprising a generally horizontal platform with a top side and a bottom side. The bottom side has at least one coordinate region with a plurality of bore clusters arranged in a coordinate pattern thereon. And each bore cluster has at least two bores. In this manner, a first pair of bores of a first bore cluster has a first line of symmetry between the first pair of bores, and a second pair of bores of a second bore cluster has a second line of symmetry between the second pair of bores. Moreover, the second line of symmetry is collinear with the first line of symmetry, and a first distance between the first pair of bores is equal to a second distance between the second pair of bores.

[0011] Additionally, the modular furniture construction also comprises at least two substructures. Each of the substructures have at least two generally vertical panels, and hinging means for hinging the panels to form a non-linear hinge angle therebetween. Each panel has an upper portion, a lower portion, at least one hinge portion between the upper and lower portions, and bore connector means for releasably connecting the upper portion to the bores. In this manner, a first panel of a first substructure and a second panel of a second substructure are each releasably connected to both the first pair of bores and the second pair of bores, whereby the first and second panels are in parallel confronting relation to each other.

[0012] In a second preferred embodiment, the present invention is for a modular furniture construction kit having component parts which are capable of being assembled by a user for constructing various configurations of furniture. The modular furniture construction kit comprises the combination of the following: (1) a generally horizontal platform having top and bottom sides, with the bottom side having at least one coordinate region with a plurality of bores arranged in a coordinate pattern thereon, and (2) at least one substructure having at least two generally vertical panels. Each panel has an upper portion, a lower portion, at least one hinge portion, and bore connector means for releasably connecting the upper portion to the bores. The bore connector means is to be inserted into selected bores chosen by the user for releasable connection therewith. Each substructure also has hinge means for hinging the panels to each other along the respective hinge portions. The hinge means is to be pivoted to form a non-linear hinge angle between adjacent panels prior to releasably connecting the upper portion to the bores.

[0013] In yet a third preferred embodiment, the modular furniture construction has a generally horizontal platform having top and bottom sides, and at least one throughbore communicating between the top and bottom sides. At least two substructures are provided, with each substructure having at least two generally vertical panels. Each panel has an upper portion, a lower portion, at least one hinge portion between the upper and lower portions, and means for releasably connecting the upper portion to the bottom surface of the platform. Each substructure also has hinge means for hinging the panels to form a non-linear hinge angle therebetween and a hinge corner opposite there hinge angle. And at least one pair of the substructures are positioned diametrically opposite each other to form a channeled seat between the respective hinge corners. Furthermore, at least one support column is provided which is seated in the channeled seat and extended out through a corresponding throughbore of the platform. The support column is utilized for reliably supporting additional components above the platform.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first illustrative configuration of the modular furniture construction, as viewed from the top.

[0015]FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of the first illustrative configuration of FIG. 1 as viewed from the bottom.

[0016]FIG. 3 is a bottom view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 of the first illustrative configuration.

[0017]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a typical substructure having two generally vertical panels hinged together.

[0018]FIG. 5 is a top view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4 of the dual-panel substructure.

[0019]FIG. 6 is top perspective view of a second illustrative configuration of the modular furniture construction, including steel columns supported by the corners of several substructures.

[0020]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6, showing the corner support of the steel columns.

[0021]FIG. 8 is a top view of one of the platform apertures in FIG. 6 with the support columns and one of the four substructures being removed to show the slot opening for receiving a support column.

[0022]FIG. 9 is an enlarged view taken along the circle 9 of FIG. 3 superimposed over a coordinate grid to illustrate the alignment of the bore clusters.

[0023]FIG. 10 is a coordinate grid illustration of a second preferred embodiment of the bore cluster.

[0024]FIG. 11 is an illustrative embodiment of a platform having multiple coordinate regions of a bottom side thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-5, and 9 show a first preferred embodiment of the modular furniture construction system, generally indicated at reference character 10. As a general matter, the system 10 includes a generally horizontal platform 11, and several vertical substructures, e.g. 26, each comprising generally vertical panels 30, 31 which releasably connect to the platform 11 in a variety of configurations, according to the present invention. It is appreciated that the “generally horizontal” and “generally vertical” designations are intended to indicate proximate orientations relative to a reference base, while establishing the orthogonal or substantially orthogonal orientations of the substructure panels relative to the platform. It is also notable that while the furniture construction system 10 is shown herein embodied as a desk or table, i.e. where the platform 11 rests on top of the substructures, it is not limited only to such. Alternatively, the substructures may be suspended from the platform 11 such as when embodied as a cabinet-type furniture.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the generally horizontal platform 11 has an elongated rectangular shape with top and bottom sides, a front edge 13, back edge 14, and side edges 15. It is appreciated, however, that the platform 11 is not limited to any one geometric or other shape (see FIG. 11 showing hexagonal platform shape). Furthermore, the platform 11 may also include at least one throughbore 16 which communicates between the top 12 and bottom 19 sides, i.e. allows passage through the platform 11 (see greater discussion below).

[0027] Furthermore, as can be best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bottom side 19 of the platform 11 has a plurality of bores 21′ which are grouped into a plurality of bore clusters 21. And the bore clusters 21 are arranged in a coordinate pattern which enables a wide variety of substructure panel configurations, as will be discussed in greater detail below. It is appreciated that the term “coordinate pattern” as used herein and in the claims preferably refers to any repeating pattern identifiable on a Cartesian grid coordinate system (see for example FIGS. 9 and 10). However, it is also notable that other types of coordinate systems, such as a polar or radial may alternatively be utilized.

[0028] Furthermore, the coordinate pattern is uniquely associated with a coordinate region of the bottom side 19. While FIG. 1 shows a single coordinate region comprising the entire bottom side 19, multiple coordinate regions may be provided on the same bottom side 19 having independent coordinate systems of varying type and/or orientation. One example of a platform having multiple coordinate regions is shown in FIG. 11 of a platform 11′ having a hexagonal shape. The platform 11′ therefore is shown having six evenly divided coordinate regions, each having its own bore cluster coordinate pattern thereon. Additionally, although not shown in the figures, it is notable that multiple surfaces may be provided on the bottom side, with each surface defining a unique coordinate region.

[0029] Additionally, the system 10 of the first preferred embodiment also includes at least two substructures which provide the vertical dimension of the furniture, and which attach to the bottom side 19 of the platform 11. In particular, four substantially identical substructures 26, 27, 28, and 29 are shown attached to and supporting the platform 11. It is appreciated, however, that the substructures need not be identical with each other, rather different substructure configurations provide greater range of arrangement variation.

[0030] Details of a representative substructure unit 26 are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The substructure unit 26 includes three panels positioned to support each other in a vertically upright manner, including a central panel 30, and two side panels 31 on opposite ends of the central panel 30. It is appreciated, however, that two panels would be sufficient to provide stability in the upright position. In any case, each panel has an upper portion 32, and an opposite lower portion 33. The upper portions 32 are shown having fasteners, such as a dowel pin, which enables releasable connection with a bore 21′ on the bottom side 19. It is appreciated that any manner of releasable fastening device may be employed for this purpose. Furthermore, each panel also has at least one hinge portion 34 between the upper 32 and lower 33 portions. Thus the central panel 30 has two hinge portions, while the side panels 31 each have a single hinge portion 34 and a swing portion 35. It is notable that each of the upper 32, lower 33, hinge 34, and swing 34 portions are shown in the figures as edges of a rectangular panel 30. However, and similar to the platform 11, the panels are not limited to any shape, geometric or otherwise, which may or may not have “edges.”

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the panels 30, 31 are preferably hinged to each other along the hinge portions 34 thereof. When the panels are hinged to form a non-linear angle along an inner surface 39 of the panels, hinge corners 38 are formed diametrically opposite the non-linear angle. Furthermore, the panels are preferably hinged to each other by means of a flexible hinge strip 36. The Such flexible hinge strips 36 are preferably constructed from a flexible polymeric material, such as polypropylene, or PVC. While other types of hinges may also be employed, flexible hinge strips are preferred due to their ability to produce gapless, seamless hinging of the panels. Furthermore, such flexible hinge strips 36 provide a structurally sound formation of co-dependent vertical panels, upon which the platform may be rigidly and reliably supported. It is also appreciated that the use of flexible tape hinges 36 enables “quick-setup” of the furniture construction.

[0032]FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first illustrative configuration and arrangement of the various component parts of the first preferred embodiment 10. The system 10 is embodied as a desk or table-type unit having four substructures positioned adjacent the bottom side 19 of the platform 11. A first substructure 26 is shown positioned adjacent a second substructure 27, and a third substructure 28 is shown positioned adjacent a fourth substructure 29. As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 9 the vertical panels 30, 31 are aligned with corresponding bores of the coordinate pattern. As can be seen in detail in FIG. 9, the coordinate pattern comprises a plurality of bore clusters having two bores. A representative pair of bore clusters 22 and 24 is shown, with the first bore cluster 22 having a first pair of bores 23 a and 23 b. And the second bore cluster 24 having a second pair of bores 25 a and 25 b. As can be seen, the first pair of bores have a line of symmetry therebetween, and the second pair of bores have a line of symmetry therebetween as well. Moreover, the lines of symmetry are collinear, and designated by the line of symmetry S. Thus when a first panel 30 of the second substructure 27 and a second panel 30 of the first substructure 26 are releasably secured to the first and second bore clusters 22 and 24, respectively, they are placed in parallel confronting relationship with each other. Preferably, each bore pair of each cluster is suitably spaced, and the panels have a suitable thickness, whereby the panels contact each other when attached to the bottom side 19. Furthermore, an example of a second bore cluster arrangement of a second illustrative coordinate pattern 49 is shown in FIG. 10, wherein four bores are provided for each bore cluster 50.

[0033] To illustrate the various configurations of the furniture construction system, a second arrangement 10′ is shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 shows a second illustrative configuration and arrangement of the substructures which is different from that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In this configuration, four substructures are provided each having two vertical panels. Moreover, it is of particular note that when arranged as shown in this manner, the respective hinge corners 38 (see FIG. 8) form and elongated channel seat 48. And as shown in FIG. 6, a support column 47 may be seated in the channel seat 48. In this manner the support column 47, preferably having a steel construction, may be supported along its sides, whereby it may rigidly support additional shelves or objects above the platform.

[0034] It is notable that the platform 11 and the substructures preferably have a common wood construction. However, other material and composite types may be alternatively utilized, for reducing the weight of such furniture construction system.

[0035] The present embodiments of this invention are thus to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive; the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein. 

I claim:
 1. A modular furniture construction system comprising: a generally horizontal platform having top and bottom sides, the bottom side having at least one coordinate region with a plurality of bore clusters arranged in a coordinate pattern thereon, each bore cluster having at least two bores wherein a first pair of bores of a first bore cluster has a first line of symmetry therebetween, a second pair of bores of a second bore cluster has a second line of symmetry therebetween which is collinear with the first line of symmetry, and a first spacing between the first pair of bores is equal to a second distance spacing the second pair of bores; and at least two substructures, each having: at least two generally vertical panels, each panel having an upper portion, a lower portion, at least one hinge portion between the upper and lower portions, and bore connector means for releasably connecting the upper portion to the bores; and hinge means for hinging the panels along the respective hinge portions to form a non-linear hinge angle therebetween, wherein a first panel of a first substructure and a second panel of a second substructure are each releasably connected to both the first pair of bores and the second pair of bores, whereby the first and second panels are in parallel confronting relation to each other.
 2. The modular furniture construction system of claim 1, wherein each bore cluster has an even number of bores.
 3. The modular furniture construction system of claim 2, wherein each bore cluster has an even number of diametrically opposed pairs of bores, each diametrically opposed pair being symmetric about a corresponding line of symmetry.
 4. The modular furniture construction system of claim 1, wherein said hinge means is a flexible tape hinge adhered to the hinge portions of the vertical panels.
 5. A modular furniture construction kit having component parts capable of being assembled by a user for constructing various configurations of furniture, said modular furniture construction kit comprising the combination of: a generally horizontal platform having top and bottom sides, the bottom side having at least one coordinate region with a plurality of bores arranged in a coordinate pattern thereon; and at least one substructure having: at least two generally vertical panels, each panel having an upper portion, a lower portion, at least one hinge portion between the upper and lower portions, and bore connector means attached to the upper portion for releasably connecting the upper portion to the bores, said bore connector means to be inserted into selected bores chosen by the user for releasable connection therewith; and hinge means for hinging the panels to each other along the respective hinge portions, said hinge means to be pivoted to form a non-linear hinge angle between adjacent panels prior to releasably connecting the upper portion to the bores.
 6. The modular furniture construction kit as in claim 5, wherein the coordinate pattern is an arrangement of a plurality of bore clusters, with each bore cluster having at least two bores wherein a first pair of bores of a first bore cluster has a first line of symmetry therebetween, a second pair of bores of a second bore cluster has a second line of symmetry therebetween which is collinear with the first line of symmetry, and a first distance between the first pair of bores is equal to a second distance between the second pair of bores.
 7. The modular furniture construction kit of claim 6, wherein a first panel of a first substructure and a second panel of a second substructure are each to be releasably connected to both the first pair of bores and the second pair of bores, whereby the first and second panels are in parallel confronting relation to each other.
 8. The modular furniture construction kit of claim 6, wherein each bore cluster has an even number of bores.
 9. The modular furniture construction kit of claim 8, wherein each bore cluster has an even number of diametrically opposed pairs of bores, each diametrically opposed pair being symmetric about a corresponding line of symmetry.
 10. The modular furniture construction kit of claim 5, wherein said hinge means is a flexible tape hinge adhered to the hinge portions of the vertical panels.
 11. A modular furniture construction system comprising: a generally horizontal platform having top and bottom sides, and at least one throughbore communicating between the top and bottom sides; at least two substructures, each having: at least two generally vertical panels, each panel having an upper portion, a lower portion, at least one hinge portion between the upper and lower portions, and means for releasably connecting the upper portion to the bottom surface of the platform; and hinge means for hinging the panels to form a non-linear hinge angle therebetween and a hinge corner opposite the hinge angle, wherein at least one pair of the substructures are positioned diametrically opposite each other to form a channeled seat between the respective hinge corners; and at least one support column seated in the channeled seat and extending out through a corresponding throughbore of the platform, for supporting additional components above the platform.
 12. The modular furniture construction system as in claim 11, wherein the bottom side has at least one coordinate region with a plurality of bore clusters arranged in a coordinate pattern thereon, each bore cluster having at least two bores wherein a first pair of bores of a first bore cluster has a first line of symmetry therebetween, a second pair of bores of a second bore cluster has a second line of symmetry therebetween which is collinear with the first line of symmetry, and a first distance between the first pair of bores is equal to a second distance between the second pair of bores.
 13. The modular furniture construction system as in claim 12, wherein a first panel of a first substructure and a second panel of a second substructure are each releasably connected to both the first pair of bores and the second pair of bores, whereby the first and second panels are in parallel confronting relation to each other. 